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The gap in ordinary travel insurance
A standard travel policy is built for accidents and illness on holiday. It does not normally cover things going wrong in surgery you travelled for.[NHS] BAAPS puts it the same way: most holiday policies will not cover surgery that goes wrong, and the cost of prolonged care abroad is unlikely to be covered by a regular policy.[BAAPS]
Supplemental cover for follow-up or emergency care after treatment abroad may be available.[CDC] The point is to look for it specifically, before you go, for the trip you are actually taking.
Before you buy
Questions to ask an insurer
Ask in writing, and read the exclusions rather than the summary.
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Does this policy cover complications of the planned surgery itself? | Standard travel insurance normally does not.[NHS] |
| Does it cover medical evacuation or getting home on medical grounds? | The CDC recommends cover that includes medical evacuation home.[CDC] Emergency travel home on medical grounds can be very expensive.[GOV.UK] |
| Does it cover follow-up or emergency care after I return? | Supplemental travel health insurance for follow-up or emergency care after treatment abroad may be available.[CDC] |
| Have I declared the planned treatment and my existing conditions? | GOV.UK advises declaring existing conditions and pending treatment; failing to declare something may invalidate the policy.[GOV.UK] |
| Does it cover the cost of getting home if I cannot use my original ticket? | GOV.UK lists getting home after medical treatment, when the original ticket cannot be used, among the things to check. Ask whether it applies when a surgeon delays your flight.[GOV.UK] |
| Is there a 24-hour assistance helpline? | GOV.UK lists it among the things to check.[GOV.UK] |
Before you pay
Questions to ask the clinic and surgeon
- What insurance do the clinic and the surgeon hold, and would it cover me?[NHS]
- If there is an emergency, how would I get home, and what would that cost?[NHS]
- What is the plan if a complication arises during treatment, or after I have flown home?[BAAPS]
- What does the price include, and what costs could appear later?[BAAPS]
Your own country
Cover at home
UK patients. BAAPS says the NHS will generally treat life-threatening complications, but other problems may have to be paid for by you.[BAAPS] A GHIC or EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance: it does not cover private medical costs or repatriation.[GOV.UK]
US patients. The CDC advises reviewing your health insurance to see what, if anything, it covers for complications of treatment abroad, and planning for the possibility of paying for additional care yourself.[CDC]
Buy it early
